TOURNAMENT

Tournament Logistics

When you arrive at the event, please check-in and pick up your competitor card. This card will be used by the judges in your division to record your scores in each event.

After picking up your card, take a seat in the bleachers. Since each division (group of competitors) is assigned a ring right before their division starts, we won't know which ring you'll be competing in or which seats offer the best view.

The emcee will call divisions to the "pit" in numerical order. When your division is called, please report to the pit where roll will be called. Once a ring is available, your division will head to that ring.

Schedule of Events: 

Demo Team Competition

7:45 a.m. – Doors open

8:30 a.m. - 4A STORM competition

9:10 a.m. - 3A / 2A / 1A Demo Team competition.

9:50 a.m. - 4A SWAT competition. The first individual divisions will be called to the pit at this time.

10:05 a.m. - The first individual divisions will start.

Individual Competition

A rough schedule of expected "call times" (the time a division is called to the pit) is listed below. A few days before the tournament, we will e-mail a more precise schedule. Note, however, that even this schedule will be approximate.

Kid Champ Division Schedule

All Kid Champ divisions will initially be called to the pit on the main floor but will take place in one of the rings in the upstairs gymnasium. They will be called in ascending numerical order, which will be independent of the calling of the divisions that take place on the main floor. This means that a higher-number division that takes place on the main floor could potentially be called to the pit before a lower-number Kid Champ division.

Note that the times listed in the schedule are the earliest possible times that the divisions can be called to the pit. We cannot predict exactly how the tournament will run and it is likely that your child's division will be called at least 30-60 minutes after the time listed on the schedule. Please be prepared to wait.

Regular Division Schedule

All regular divisions will be called to the pit on the main floor. During the early part of the tournament, they will all take place in a ring on the main floor. They will be called in ascending numerical order, which will be independent of the calling of the Kid Champ divisions. This means that a higher-number Kid Champ division could potentially be called to the pit before a lower-number regular division.

Teen and adult black belts divisions (divisions 49 and above) will take place starting at approximately 1:30 or 2:00. (Once all of the other divisions complete, we will take a 30-minute break to allow judges a chance to rest and prepare for their own competition.)

Note that the times listed in the schedule are the earliest possible times that the divisions can be called to the pit. We cannot predict exactly how the tournament will run and it is likely that your child's division will be called at least 30-60 minutes after the time listed on the schedule.

Time Estimates for Divisions

Ban Bu Belts - 9:50

Junior White thru Green Belts - 9:50

Junior Brown Brown Belts - 11:00

13+ Colored Belts - 11:40

12 and Under Black Belts - 12:00

13+ Black Belts - 1:30

Kid Champs - 9:50

Black Belt Graduation

6:00 p.m. Black Belt Candidates should arrive back at the venue for pictures and lining up.

7:00 p.m. Black Belt Graduation. All friends and family are welcome for this very special event!

Available Events:

Kid Champs: Students may perform an Empty-hand Form OR a Weapons Form, do Power Karate OR Point Sparring, and do Board Breaking.

Juniors,Teens and Adults: Forms, Weapons, and Point Sparring (plus Power Karate for white–green belts).

Power Karate Combos:

Competitors will perform each combo three times.

In the spring tournaments, the power karate combos are:
123 p8
232 sk

In the fall tournaments, the power karate combos are:
145 p8
252 sk

Scoring:

Each division is assigned a scoring range.
• Little Ninjas: 5.0-5.9
• Kid Champs / W, Y, O: 6.0-6.9
• P, B, G: 7.0-7.9
• Brown, Ban Bu: 8.0-8.9
• Black: 9.0-9.9

So a Purple Belt would receive a score between 7.0 and 7.9. A score of 5 (e.g., 7.5) is considered to be an average score. A score of 8 (e.g., 7.8) would be a high score and a score of 2 (e.g., 7.2) would be a low score. If a division has competitors with multiple different belt levels, all competitors will be scored at the higher range. (For example, all competitors in an orange and purple belt division would be scored between 7.0 and 7.9).

Being a judge at a Bobby Lawrence Karate Tournament is a fun experience that enables our black belts to see the event from a different perspective. In order to ensure we have the highest quality judges, we have training material and information at the link below.

Judge Information

Demo Teams

Note: Demo teams will compete first thing on Saturday morning. For a schedule of demo team events, see the "schedule" section of this webpage.

Click here to register for demo teams. Log in or create an account. If you are an adult black belt, demo team registration will appear as an option.

NOTE: There should only be ONE registration per team (generally handled by the head instructor, branch manager, or team captain). Team members DO NOT need to register themselves individually at this link.

Black Belt Graduation Information

The Spring 2024 Black Belt Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 4th. There are three parts to the event:
1. Compete in the tournament in your individual division.
2. Complete an assignment at the tournament with black belt excellence.
3. Excel in the final test and celebration held Saturday evening (7:00 p.m.)

Information on required equipment, clothing, and other preparatory steps is below:

Required Gear / Uniforms
For both the individual competition and the final black belt celebration, candidates will need the following:

1. Karate uniform, including belt. Candidates should wear their uniforms for both competition and assisting at the tournament.

2. If the candidate is competing in sparring and / or weapons at the tournament, they will need appropriate equipment for those events. Sparring gear will NOT be needed during the final portion of the test on Saturday evening.

Assignments

Candidates are required to complete an assignment assisting with the tournament.

Preparing for Your Assignment – Generally, teens and adults serve as judges while younger students serve as score-keepers or runners. If you are likely to be assigned as a judge, we recommend reading the rules, watching the videos, and taking the quiz here.

Assignment schedules will vary depending on your assignment. You should have received an e-mail with the details of your assignment.

If you are have been assigned to assist after your division:
Your competition will be one of the first events of the day.

When it’s time for your assignment (which may be immediately after your division finishes or may be a little bit later), check in at the judges’ table and you will be rotated into a ring at the next opportunity. Please note that you may have to wait for a few minutes before you can be rotated into a ring.

If you are have been assigned to assist at the start of the tournament
Please check-in at the judges’ table by 9:50 a.m.  (At check-in, you can confirm your ring assignment. Teens / adults will generally be expected to judge throughout the day (with a break for lunch). Younger students will have shorter shifts.

To receive credit, candidates must check in at the assigned start time and continue to serve for the duration of their assignment. Please plan accordingly by eating a nutritious and filling breakfast, bringing water and snacks for during the day, and bringing all gear that will be needed later in the day.

Final Graduation / Celebration

Black belt candidates along with up to 2 family members are invited to come back to the venue at 6:00 for refreshments and a meet and greet type event with Master Lawrence and other black belts in our organization. (Note: when candidates check-in for the tournament, they will receive three wristbands. These will be required for access to the floor during the meet and greet.)

At 6:30, the final grand championship matches of the tournament will take place. Candidates will be invited to stay out on the floor for a better view. Once the grand championship matches and awards wrap up (around 6:50 or 6:55), candidates will line take their places for graduation. To facilitate a timely start of the graduation, candidates should ensure that they are back at the venue no later than 6:45.

The black belt graduation will start at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and is expected to last about an hour. 

General Tips

* Especially if you are driving from a distance, it can end up being a while between the time you eat breakfast in the morning and the time that you’re able to take a break and eat lunch. Make sure to eat a filling and nutritious breakfast.

* There is not a limit on the number of spectators.

* While there are many activities and events during the day, there may also be some down-time between events. It is recommended that candidates come prepared with a book, tablet, or other activity to use in case there is down-time.

* Bring water and stay hydrated. Sometimes there is so much going on that it’s easy to forget to drink water, but drinking throughout the day is important.